After absorbing some Yang energy, Lin Feiran walked to the bathroom door and hesitated for a moment. He still didn’t feel like going out; even though he couldn’t see or hear the ghosts, he only needed to think about them to know that this group of Gu family’s ancestors was certainly discussing him. Instead, Lin Feiran turned away from the door and sat on the toilet with a troubled expression.
This broken power to see ghosts was really unwanted. Next week, no matter what, he needed to go back to his old house and investigate. But how would he bring Gu Kaifeng over…
Lin Feiran sighed slowly as he thought, sounding like a little old man.
“What are you doing?” At this time, Gu Kaifeng suddenly flung aside the shower curtain and looked at Lin Feiran who was sitting on the toilet wearing a stunned and cute expression. He teased, “Waiting for me to get out of the shower?”
“No, I just…” Lin Feiran couldn’t think of a good excuse and stammered, making it so he had no option but to turn away and leave. Bracing himself, he opened the door and went out.
The hallway outside the bathroom was silent. Lin Feiran stood at the bathroom door with a troubled expression. Although he felt awkward about going in again, one step closer to his talisman was one step closer. Another few minutes passed and the sound of water from the shower stopped, followed closely by the swoosh of the shower curtain being pulled aside. The sound of Gu Kaifeng’s slipper-shod footsteps drew closer, then halted. He was probably drying himself off and putting on clothes.
Gu Kaifeng was done showering, but this was not comforting to Lin Feiran because that tendril of Yin energy had grown tired of waiting and was starting to rise from the soles of his feet. As soon as Lin Feiran’s Yin-Yang eyes were activated again, three heavily-lined old faces sprang up in front of him. The nearest was only several centimeters away from Lin Feiran. At the same time, he could hear an old voice complaining, “These eyes of mine really can’t see. Even this close, they can’t see clearly…”
They seemed to be trying to see what Lin Feiran looked like!
“Ah…” Lin Feiran was mentally prepared, but he still couldn’t take this sudden close contact. He swiftly clapped a hand over his mouth and blocked the scream that was caught in his throat. He was about to rush back into the bathroom but found that one of the old ghosts was standing right at the door. To go into the bathroom, he would need to pass through the old ghost’s body. Remembering how terrible it felt Yin energy had frozen all his joints until they curled up, Lin Feiran was defeated by his terror. He turned his head and ran in the opposite direction. All he could think about was how to put more distance between him and these ghost ancestors.
The white-faced Lin Feiran had only ran several steps when he saw a golden head suddenly pop out from around the corner. It was the Yorkie carrying a dog toy in his mouth. Bright Yang energy enveloped his body like molten gold. Its strength looked no less than that of Gu Kaifeng’s!
Damn, this dog has very strong Yang energy! Lin Feiran’s expression was so agitated he seemed ready to swallow the Yorkie in one mouthful. He shot forward like an arrow and bent over to scoop up the terrified Xia Xia who looked like he was about to turn tail and run. Lin Feiran took the dog into his arms and hugged him tightly!
Immediately after he touched Xia Xia, the chilly feeling in Lin Feiran’s body vanished. He hurriedly looked back and found that the ghost ancestors in the hallway had also disappeared.
“Uu–woof!” Xia Xia’s beady black eyes were opened round and wide, and even his bow had gone crooked from shock. He barked as he tried to get free of Lin Feiran’s arms.
“Don’t be scared, don’t be scared. Good boy, I don’t eat dogs…” Lin Feiran realized that his manner just now was quite frightening. He quickly relaxed the strength in his arms and used one arm to support the very terrified Xia Xia and the other caress Xia Xia’s small head comfortingly.
After several strokes, Lin Feiran succeeded in dislodging the bow from Xia Xia’s head.
The very vain Xia Xia was now even more unhappy. “Woof! Woof woof woof!”
“… Sorry.” Lin Feiran scrambled to pick up the bow and put it back on Xia Xia.
Xia Xia’s mood seemed to get better. He lay in Lin Feiran’s arms and didn’t struggle any more.
Lin Feiran softly let out a breath. Before today he would not have thought that animals could also have Yang energy. In that case, he could keep a Yang energy-heavy pet as a talisman in the future… something like a hamster, which he could keep secretly in his bedroom. Then he would not need to keep sticking to Gu Kaifeng… At this point, Lin Feiran’s mood, which had been somewhat low for the past few days, instantly became sunny. The more he looked at Xia Xia in his arms, the more he found him cute!
Thus, when Gu Kaifeng had finished putting on his clothes and had walked out of the bathroom, he saw Lin Feiran twirling around with Xia Xia raised joyfully in the air. After spinning several times, Lin Feiran, with shining eyes, kissed Xia Xia on his small head.
“I’m done showering.” Gu Kaifeng strode over, the hint of a dark smile on his lips. He took Xia Xia from Lin Feiran’s arms and, with an incomparably calm expression, kissed the same spot Lin Feiran had kissed.
Xia Xia greatly enjoyed the feeling of being doted upon. He didn’t know that he had been used by his big brother as an instrument for an indirect kiss with his sister-in-law!
An inexplicable feeling of panic rose in Lin Feiran’s heart. With a whoosh, he turned his head to stare at the wall. Pretending he had not seen anything, he suggested seriously, “Let’s make good use of the time and do our homework.”
He was deathly afraid that the Gu family’s ancestors would feel that he was leading astray the sole heir of nine generations!
Gu Kaifeng put Xia Xia on the ground and swept his gaze slowly over Lin Feiran.
Lin Feiran’s pajamas did not fit well: they were a bit too big on him and the neckline was opened a little wide. Both of his good-looking collarbones were completely exposed, leading smoothly to his fair and clear throat and pointed chin. Seeing this, Gu Kaifeng could not control his thoughts. He could only think about quickly hugging the little sticky cake Lin Feiran, wrapping them in blankets, and going to bed.
Gu Kaifeng eyed Lin Feiran hungrily like a wolf. He said in a low voice, “We’ll do it together tomorrow. Let’s sleep first.”
Lin Feiran picked up his new talisman Xia Xia from the ground and did not notice Gu Kaifeng’s expression. He asked innocently, “It’s only nine. Can you fall asleep at this hour?”
I wasn’t thinking of sleeping. Big brother just wants to hug you. Gu Kaifeng took a deep breath and pressed down on the wicked fire in his heart while saying, “Then let’s do homework for a while.”
Holding Xia Xia, Lin Feiran followed Gu Kaifeng into the study.
The table in the study had been bought by Gu Kaifeng’s father in order to do his work. But after he bought it he barely used it at all, so Gu Kaifeng took it over. The surface of the work desk was especially big and books and stationery could be freely put anywhere. It was very comfortable. Gu Kaifeng gathered together the things on the desk to create a pretty big space for Lin Feiran to work. Then he dragged over a swivel chair from another room so the two could sit side by side at the desk like in school.
Lin Feiran pulled out his homework from his school bag and put it into a thick stack in the order in which he wanted to work on it. Then, he took math workbook from the top of the pile and flipped it open. He murmured to himself, “Complete pages 46 to 50…”
Looking at Lin Feiran’s serious demeanor, Gu Kaifeng thought it fun. He followed his example and put his homework in the exact same order, then opened his math workbook and flipped to page 46.
Lin Feiran glanced at Gu Kaifeng and saw that he also wanted to do math first. Eagerly, he asked, “Let’s compete and see who does it faster?”
“Sure.” Gu Kaifeng pulled out two sheets of blank paper and handed them to Lin Feiran to use as scratch paper. “Let’s start.”
Lin Feiran patted Xia Xia who was lying on his knees and said, “Gu Kaifeng’s little brother, you’re very good.”
Xia Xia grunted adorably and absorbed himself in playing with his dog toy.
Lin Feiran buried his head in his book and started to answer the questions. It was very quiet inside the house, and only the sound of pen tips scratching over paper could be heard. Lin Feiran finished twelve multiple choice questions in one go, then stealthily glanced at Gu Kaifeng’s workbook. He saw Gu Kaifeng was still on question 11 and instantly relaxed. With full confidence that he would win, he started on the fill-in-the-blanks.
By this time, almost twenty minutes had passed. In these twenty minutes, Lin Feiran had not touched Gu Kaifeng at all, but his Yin-Yang eyes had not activated. Clearly, this was all Xia Xia’s good work. Lin Feiran ruffled Xia Xia’s fur twice, the corners of his lips slightly lifted. He was very pleased.
Noticing this situation, Gu Kaifeng knocked Lin Feiran’s knee gently with his own, asking, “Why don’t you touch me anymore?”
Lin Feiran had the dog to help him now and was completely unafraid. He said with a stern face, “Usually, I don’t touch you either.”
After he spoke, he even inched his swivel chair away from Gu Kaifeng by ten centimetres to demonstrate his innocence!
“You come over here for me.” Gu Kaifeng was both angry and amused. He took hold of the armrest of Lin Feiran’s chair and forcibly pulled Lin Feiran towards him. Then, he nudged Lin Feiran’s homework towards him a little as well. The two were now pressed very close together. If their arms and legs moved even a little they would touch.
“The table’s so big. Don’t you dislike being so close?” Lin Feiran protested and scooted away a little, but Gu Kaifeng immediately pulled him back.
Gu Kaifeng asked, “Still running?”
Lin Feiran shot back, “Don’t make a scene.”
Gu Kaifeng’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re usually firmly stuck to me. Now you’re refusing to admit it?”
Lin Feiran was completely serious and poker-faced as he said, “That’s your misconception.”
The little sticky cake was suddenly not being sticky anymore. It was probably because he needed a beating!
Gu Kaifeng was so frustrated he ground his teeth. He said, “Sit quietly. If you run any more, I’ll make you sit in my lap.”
Lin Feiran’s face instantly flushed red. In order to make the atmosphere less strange, he forced himself to tease casually, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll break your leg if I sit on it?”
Gu Kaifeng gave a devilish smile. “Try it?”
“No way. Hurry up and answer your questions. I’m two ahead of you right now.” Red-faced, Lin Feiran changed the subject. He didn’t dare keep running away either. He buried his head in his scratch paper and started to write furiously.
An hour later, Gu Kaifeng closed his workbook and stretched leisurely. It looked like he had finished his work, but Lin Feiran was stuck at the last long-answer question. His handsome brow was tightly knit as his pen flew over the paper, writing and calculating. His face was even a little red from exertion. As for Xia Xia, he had laid his head down on Lin Feiran’s knee and fallen asleep.
Gu Kaifeng stood up and quietly went down to the first floor. A while later, he came back up holding a plate of washed and cut fruits.
“Open your mouth.” Gu Kaifeng peeled a grape and pushed it against Lin Feiran’s lips. Lin Feiran was concentrating fully on the long-answer question and didn’t give it any thought. He opened his mouth and ate the thing Gu Kaifeng had brought to his mouth, his soft lips touching Gu Kaifeng’s fingertips.
Gu Kaifeng retracted his hand and licked his fingertip. He said, “This is really sweet.”
Lin Feiran thought he was talking about the grape and replied distractedly, “Yes, it is very sweet.”